Division News

NICER Nominated for Rotary National Award for Space Achievement

02.07.2019

NICER has been nominated for the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation's prestigious Stellar Award in recognition of recognizes the NICER team’s hard work and exceptional accomplishments. The PI, Dr. Keith Gendreau, and a guest are invited as representatives of the team to attend the 33rd annual Space Awards Gala, to be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston, Texas, on April 26. They are also invited to participate in a tour of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, followed by a luncheon at the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake on the day of the gala, when the Stellar Award winners will be announced.

Overview

The Astrophysics Science Division conducts a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. Individual investigations address issues such as the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which planets outside our solar system may harbor life, and the nature of space, time, and matter at the edges of black holes.

Observing photons, particles, and gravitational waves enables researchers to probe astrophysical objects and processes. Researchers develop theoretical models, design experiments and hardware to test theories, interpret and evaluate the data, archive and disseminate the data, provide expert user support to the scientific community, and publish conclusions drawn from research. The Division also conducts education and public outreach programs about its projects and missions.